Dispensing package



Jan. 9, 1945. J.\ HAAG 2,367,019

DISPENSING PACKAGE Filed June 2, 1944 Patented Jan. 9, 1945 M 7 lS G Iaims. Thisinvention;relatesgto dispensingj' jigka flndxrelateddevices. I t g 7 e: abject 1' of? theflinventiong is to! proV-ide;.;a i n i aa packa e especially adapted :f p"pi 115 hard candies and other articles,t,having; im-t .proyed; tubular. construction. with; mean for the v improved closure means ;;a ;lapted-.. tolbeareleasedu by the holding pressure ,oitthe hand; L

Another object of v 'theiinyention is; to struct a; device; of. the.- type; mentioned? having improved meanstgto prevent separation, of; the parts of the package, semblingthereof. v

Another object [oft the: invention is' towdevise an. improved. structure: which; is adapted tn; be molded of: plastics with. the; use of simple dies,

with. one or more-oft the; parts consisting ofn.

transparent;material for; easy visibilityv of;- the contents and. theirf-1ocati0n-fls5 disnensin tpm- ,gressest I w o Another. object; oflthe invention.- is toj fnrnish improved; feelers means tmindi ate." the. approacha Ofl an article, to dispensing; positionywithoutl requiring. observationtthereof A Another object of the invention is to construct improved," means such. that an. opening movement. causes the contained. articles to. be-:

come. loose,, and a closing movement t causes: the articles; to: be snugly held against rattlinge in the pac a e; l w t Anotherobject of: the; invention istheqproi ision: ofra dispensing package having improved.

meansfor: holding annumber ofuarticles for individual removal without:permittingall the.arti cles, to accidentally drop; out if they; are, all

moved to dispensingposition. 7

Other objects; and advantages. of thee-invention;- will become apparent ,as. thee, specificationr pro- I ceedss V t. A t V With theaaforesaid objects; .in} view; .,.the.1 invention: comprises thes novel features; combinations. and arrangements: .ofipartshereinafter described. intheir preferred:embodiments,,, pointed out in the-subioined, claims,v and illustrated in thaannexed drawing; wherein like parts: arcadesignateid. by the same: V-reference: characters.

thmughnntzthesever alaliews;v A

butz. -,permitting; easyaslnlherdirawinavz a f 1 o -Fiure: '1' is a tim plan view of; a dispensing ackageA emfipd'yingtlie invention, showing, the sametinpartiallyzopenjpositiona I "Figa2iisatverticalfcentral.sectional,viewthereof: with-pants;ine1eyationg o 'Eiir+' 31is.,a verticallsectionali view, through. the closure; endof the device wheni the same; is, in cIosedl'xinsitiom V V .l figilamsatsecti'onall .QonJ-ihe -4.4floi1 FIE. 2, withtanwarticle.thereimshown in' dotedash Ii'nes.

\ QFig'. at sihiilan viewvoialmodification.

F.i"g,;, 6? is a. fragmentary; .sectionallview; with parts; in; elevation showing; a; modification, artil5; to Ida-dispensed being; shownin'udot-da'sh lliiesn K I Elk}; isa. sectionallviewi corresponding to, that 7 7 Fig; 81 i's-Aan end, View? of; the tubular, mie'm er. Fig;.aiis alfizagmentar g plan viewoia. modification. v Q Eig. 101's ati'ansyerse's'ectibnthereof; H

The advanta es or; the; invention a'sffhere 011tlmedi "are; Best; realized when; all; of; its features 253 andlliist'r'umentalitiesz are, comfiined; but; useful .emtiodiments; may tie: pruduciedijinvolving les tnmmewnmex I V 7 It. willlfie cfivi'onstofthose: sliillefdlifi ,arttto which the inventiin appertai'ns: than same zow mayi incorporated in} several difierentf pontidn's: ,The accompanying" drawingqthereexemplifitjationidfithe;invention;4 fiefrrifrggiix.dtaiItD'tfieidmwing; l5 denotes a; device;- such; as; a disnensingipa'ckage' embodyingifttie invention. 'tIhei' same. may m'clud'e a cylindrical icover; member? I 6? opemat" the end" If! amLclbsediat" its;-.oppositeend1 I'Bi Telesco'pically 'slidildleihtheiCover is'a; carrier, member? [9 hav-' 40 Iihgatfone. enda" ,closure portion" 2n'ifnr, the cover Having Lat; mjposite.w ell'd' a" guide? disc 21 Ihe'iht'ermediate, portion. of-fthe carrier or slide memliier. I9. is; reduced in; s'i'zei to 1 approximatel 91; fialf ronndi. crossnsecti'onr which is" d. idfii by 4-5 partitionsf fl to; form pockets for receivifi'gfarticles silcl'i aslii'. Preierablitthe; side waiIs-ofithe 'iibcEets anelcontinuedi iii-parallel. re1atijtmi td'each (dtfier as, Q1124; beyloiid the, central; plane; off'the cIei'ilcegtoeanplane indicatedlatizfi; Theclbs'ute ilk-may; comprise laknbhorzfihgerrpiece. ali'iwhich always; lies" outside Jof. thehover, and an undercut rpontiontl'l. whi'cliis; adapted to enter-"the; cover engage same: frictiona'lly or.- otherwise. Bi: erabIy-aLn veLmeansJs. providedlibn releaslhcking; ..'1?hi"se mam cbnsist in is submittadfmerelya'gshowing a" preferred providing an irregular contour for the portion 21, as by constructing the opposed fiat portions 23 thereon. Now by pressing on the cover I6 as indicated by the arrows 29, the cover is adapted to be deflected to reduce the frictional engagement at the surface 30. In other words, the cover and the closure portion 21 are so proportioned in size as to provide a rather tight fit, with the flats at 28 afiording clearance for distortion of the cover into an irregular shape for releasing the closure. That irregular shape may be considered ovoid, like the portion 2'1. The tightness in the fit may be varied so that the closure may be released by merely pulling there-- on; but preferably some pressure is required as at the arrows 29.

by thinning down the immediately adjacent wall portion 36 of the cover, if desired, so that that portion becomes sufliciently resilient for this pur pose. The portion 21 may have a slight flat or groove a to accommodate the feeler in closed position, and the feeler is shallower than 32.

The device l5 can be constructed of metal, plastic or composition materials, having suitable yield or elasticity to the small degree required. Thus it can be molded with the use of simple dies and where projections are employed, they are so sma11 as not to interfere with the stripping of the molded element from the die.

To facilitate insertion of the portion 21 into the cover, the former may have its leading edge beveled or rounded off. Of

course, the main part 3| of the carrier jl9 is slightly reduced in size so as not to interfere with the distortion of the cover 16 by the releasing pressure. When the device' I 5 is closed, the chambered body 3| is carried by the closure and by the end disc 2|, and the latter serves as a guide in withdrawing the body from the cover. prevent separation of the carrier l9 from the cover, the latter may have a small projection 32 at its open end I! seating in a longitudinal groove 33 in the member l9, which groove is closed ended at the head 26 and adjacent to the disc 2| as at 34. Thus the projection 32 may form a stop, and the thickness of the disc 2| may be suflicient to ensure that it engages the cover and prevents separation of the carrier [9 by a tilting movement when the carrier has been moved outward. The engagement between the stop 32 and groove 33 will'also prevent relative rotation between the carrier and its cover which is of advantage if the cover is opaque but which is unimportant if the cover is transparent. In

the former case, a suitable marking or' other indicia may be used to show wherethe releasing pressure at 29 should be applied; in the latter case, observation ofthecarrier through the, cover will directly indicate where the releasing pressure should be applied. Also, the prevention of relative rotation avoids the possibility that the stop 32 might come into the path of'the articles 23 ,By the provision of a carrier [9 having pockets or chambers which closely fit the articles, such as 23, with the same being contactedand retained .by the cover l6, rattling of the articles is preis adapted for wiping contact with an adjacent edge of an article 23 but in a sufiiciently positive manner to afiord a frictional obstruction so that the operator may feel the resistance or retardation. Now, by a furthersmall movement of the carrier, the leading article 23 thus engaged passes the feeler 35, and thus only the one article is exposed. If the device I5 is turned, only this one article will drop into the hand, instead of more than one. This operation is readily ob- 'tained with hard articles such as pressed pills,

hard candies, and other objects and articles that are to he -packaged. Of course the feeler 35-may be resilient, and this may be readily accomplished simultaneously operative.

In assembling, the carrier may be tiltingly inserted so that the projection 32 is received in the groove 33 and then the carrier is gradually alined with the cover while being forced into the latter,

with the disc 2| snapping past the projection 35.

Now the articles 23 are filled into the carrier and the package is closed by the closure 20, which can be opened by'a simple strong pull or, more easily, by pressure as at arrows 29. In either case, there is no such trick look as would prevent the uninitiated from opening the device, and yet the closure is released by the hand hold on the package. The feeler 35 permits accurate individual removal of the articles 23 and'is too small to serve as a stop for the carrier, this function being performed by the larger projection 32.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification which is like the device [5 except that the carrier 31 is formed a little more than half round, for engaging the articles 38 to prevent them from accidentally dropping out of an exposed pocket, but to permit relatively easy withdrawal of the articles 38 by individually taking hold of them. In other words, the carrier affords only a snug Wiping contact with the articles at the edges 39. If the feeler 35 is to be used, it may be suitably lengthened to engage the articles 38 as described.

In Figs. 6 to 8 is shown a modification 40 ac cording to the invention, which'embodies all the features of the device I5, but contains improved means such that any tendency to rattling is prevented in a positive manner. This improved means creates a positive pressure or engagement between the articles 23 and the cover 4|, automatically efiective when the package is closed, and depending upon a motion secondary to or coincident with the main closing movement of the package. 'In a simple form, this means involves the provision of sloping or cam portions 32 on the carrier 43, and 44 on the cover 4|, both being Thus the cam 42 engages the mouth portion of the cover, and the cam 44 engages the disc 21 of the carrier 33, both cams serving to cause an upward movement of the carrier relative to the cover, to cause the upper edge portions of the articles 23 to be pressed against the cover. The groove 33 for the stop 32 may slope'with the cam 42 as at 45, so that the relatively shallow stop shall not leave the groove and cause jamming. Nor will the feeler 35 interfere, because the liftin of the carrier by the cams 42, 44 does not. begin until 'all the articles 23 are in the cover and have passed the feeler, and the cam 42 is so coordinated with the locking means for the closure as not to interfere with its operation above described. In this case', the cam 42 is a portion of the closure which causes the part 21 to tightly frictionally engage in the cover, release being facilitated as before bypressu're on the cover as indicated by the arrows 29. The part 2'! may have a recess or groove to afford clearance for l ass gn-9 pockets, And the proportions canfbe so accu- V rat lt' dterminedf that-there is; no" possibility of I merely jamming: the articles 23f when thepackage jjis' closed; A pill pressedout. in adier can be; prol fildj l h p ibn me su z y be 1 In Fi'gs Qandlgis-shbwha device 41 like that 'at" l- "or to ut showing a carrier 4am a cover 49, with the carrier having partitions at 50; M to provide two. rowspf pockets which are relatively staggered in thediiferent rows for discharging onlyone article at a time. Accordingly this cover 49 is rather elliptical in cross section. For each row of articles an individual feeler may be used,

but otherwise the structure and mode of opera- T1 "6 A dispensing package accordingtoclaim 1 wherein said tube isprovided with atransparent portion-to permit observation oi -said articles in operating the packagefor dispensing, the-transparent portion extending longitudinallyof the 'row'of pockets.

' 71A dispensing package according to claim 1 wherein means is providedto cause lateral movement' of theearrier as the'tube is closed by the plug-to thus causethesaid-articles to press against the tube to avoid rattling thereof, saidmeans being released upon opening said plug, and comprising spaced alined cam portions of which one is at the plug'and the otherat'the remoteend of 'the tube; said end portions of i the carrier having *clearance-with' the tube-forlateral movementunder the actuation of the cams.

8. A dispensing package including a carrier, a sleeve in which the carrier is slidable, the carrier and sleeve having closure means comprising tubular portions of which-one is frictionally engaged in the other, one tubular portion having opposed package and a dispenser, adapted to be conveniently carried in ones pocket, and by reason of' its tubular form, occupies no more space than a large fountain pen and may be clipped into ones pocket in the same manner.

I claim:

1. A dispensing package cylindrical tube open at one end, a carrier memher having end portions of generally circular cross section adapted to internally fitsaid tube and having ail-intermediate portlonof reduced cross section comprising a row of pockets for receiving articles to be dispensed, the intermediate portion having a bottom wall for said pockets resting directly on the tube with the mouthsof the pockets being spaced from the tube wall so that said articles project from the pockets, one of said end portions constituting a plug for closing the said open end of the tube and the including a generallyv plug having a finger piece for projecting the carrier from the tube. a

2. A dispensing package according to claim 1 wherein said plug and said tube provide an I irregular frictional surface of. engagement affording opposed clearances between the plug and the tube such that external pressure on the sides of the tube at said clearances causes a yielding deformation of the tube to thus release the plug.

3. A dispensing package according to claim 1 wherein the said bottom wall is provided with a closed ended groove, the tube having at its mouth a stop portion projecting into said groove.

4. A-dispensing package according to claim 1 wherein said tube is provided at its open end with a feeler portion projecting into the path of the adjacent edge portions of said articles as the engage the articles against dropping, out but to yield upon grasping the articles for removal thereof.

sections spaced from the companion tubular portion to afford clearances interrupting the frictional surface of engagement, and one of the tubular portions being resilient and deformable under external hand pressure at said sections to thus reduce the pressure and friction to facilitate disengagement of the tubular portions for opening the closure means.

9. A dispensing package including a carrier having a row of pockets for receiving articles to be dispensed, a sleeve in which the carrier is slidable,-

open end of the sleeve, the latter and the carrier having closure means for the open end of the sleeve so related t said feeler that the closure means is adapted to close without obstruction by the feeler and independently of the latter.

10. A' dispensing package according to claim 9 wherein said feeler is integral with the sleeve, the sleeve having a resilient section of reduced thickness forresiliently mounting the feeler.

11. A dispensing package according to claim 8 wherein said carrier and sleeve have means for preventing relative rotation therebetween.

12. A dispensing package including a carrier, a sleeve in which the carrier is slidable, a first cam at the bottom of the leading end of the carrier projecting downward from the bottom of the carrier, a second cam at the bottom of theremote end of the sleeve and being located therein, the second cam projecting upward from the bottom of the sleeve, said carrier and sleeve being so coordinated with each other that intermediate of the cams, when the carrier is in open position, the

carrier rests directly on the sleeve wall and is moved up by the cams when the carrier is moved into closed position in the sleeve, whereby articles in the carrier are moved into non-rattling contact with the sleeve.

13. A dispensingpackage according to c1aim8 wherein cams are provided respectively on the carrier and sleeve, one at one end and the other at the other end of the package and cooperating to lift the carrier as the latter is moved into closed position in the sleeve, said closure means having clearance for said lifting movement with the closure means being frictionally engaged when the cams are in operative engagement.

14. A dispensing package including a casing, a I

15. A dispensing package including a tubular casing, an article carrier slidabletherein, the casing having an open end and having opposed internal projections at the open end, one of the projections being an article feeler and the other being a stop, the stop having a greater radial dimension than the feeler, the carrier having a closed-ended groove to receive the stop, and cam means whereby the carrier is bodily moved along the plane of said projections toward the side of the casing having the feeler when the carrier is moved to closed position in the casing, thecam means including a projecting cam on each of the casing and carrier, at opposite ends of the package.

CHARLES J. I-IAAG; 

